Change of heart led Anderson to Sydney FC

Defender Zac Anderson has opened up on the switch of clubs he believed he had to make, and why he already knows he made the right choice.

Zac Anderson is confident he's made the right decision in leaving Central Coast Mariners for Sydney FC Source: Getty Images

Anderson and Central Coast Mariners coach Tony Walmsley mutually agreed to part company at the end of last season and Anderson signed a one-year contract with Sydney FC.

The A-League kicks off next month, and Anderson is competing with players including Matt Jurman and Jacques Faty for a place in Sydney's central defence.

Anderson said that after initially negotiating for a new two-year contract with the Mariners midway through last season, he decided to stall those talks and make a call on his future at season's end.

He said it was during that intervening period that he realised he would be better off finding a new club.

"During those initial negotiations I was coming up to my 24th birthday and with a little bit of instability at the club I didn't feel confident about securing my future there," Anderson said.

"Once the coaching situation was finalised I sat down with Tony and we both decided it wasn't the best for me for stay. I wanted to pursue other options which I had on the table, so we shooks hands and I said goodbye to the club.

"Tony and I had a great relationship. He understood that I was very passionate about the Mariners and wanting to do well. Obviously we didn't have the best of seasons and there were a lot of reasons for that, but I was adamant that I was an ambitious person.

"Mentally, I wanted a new challenge and I didn't know where that was going to be. I had a few different things throughout the back half of the season that I was thinking about exploring and at the end of the day I was very close to signing with a number of clubs.

"But I was really passionate about coming to Sydney FC. I'd been given an amazing opportunity to establish myself at the Mariners, but it was time for me to go."

Anderson said he believed the opportunity to play again under the coach who had brought him to the Mariners, Graham Arnold, push for a spot in a team capable of winning the A-League, and play in the AFC Asian Champions League, was outstanding.

With two months of pre season under is belt, Anderson has no doubt he made the correct decision.

"I'm really grateful to 'Arnie' for giving me the chance to play for him again, because I think I've played my best football under him," Anderson said.

"My main focus in going to Sydney FC was to get back with Arnie and a club that was really passionate about winning a championship.

"I just feel really comfortable here. I've worked with the coaching staff before, it's a fantastic bunch of players and I've really settled into life here."

Anderson said he wasn't afraid of having to fight for a place in the team, in the face of some stiff competition from Jurman, Faty, and Sebastian Ryall, who can play either at right back or in the heart of defence.

"Arnie has made it quite clear that he's building a squad this year with two players competing for every position," he said.

"We've got a big season with the Asian Champions League as well as the A-League, so pre-season so far has been a really tough slog.

"I learned so much in the one-and-a-half years with Arnie at the Mariners. He's such a strong mentor of mine and I feel like he gets the best out of me. I really enjoy going to work every day and getting his guidance.

"I know if I keep a positive mentality avoid injuries I can have a big year. I've been working hard along with everybody else in the squad to push my claims and hopefully by round one I'll have done enough to earn his trust and hopefully I can have a big year for the club."

A hip injury kept Anderson out of calculations for the FFA Cup, which Sydney was eliminated from in the round of 16, but Anderson said he is fully recovered now, and he believes that at his age, he still has plenty of football ahead of him.